As a native of Scotland bestselling author Iain Banks has decided to undertake a tour of the distilleries of his homeland in a bid to uncover the unique spirit of the single malt. Visiting some of the worlds most famous distilleries & also some of its smallest & most obscure ones Banks embarks on a journey of discovery which educates him about the places people & products surrounding the centuries-old tradition of whisky production. Using various modes of transport
- ferries to the islands cars across the highlands even bicycles between bus stops
- Banks tour of Scotland combines history literature & landscape in an entertaining & informative account of an exploration in which the arrival is by no means the most important part of the journey.

...

In Ra W Voices: True Stories of Hardship & Hope Vanessa Feltz meets men & women who have overcome great difficulties to change their worlds & asks each to tell their own story. These extraordinary people were brought together from all walks of life by the BBCs Reading & Writing campaign (Ra W) & they all show us what we can do to take control of our future achieve new goals & reach ever-greater heights. These amazing real-life journeys are a tribute to the strength of the human spirit. Gripping funny sometimes sad & always inspiring they will strike a chord in us all. ...

A scintillating collection of stories from the master of science fiction. Since the beginning of his career in the 1940s Ray Bradbury has become synonymous with great science fiction from the pulp comic books of his early work to his adaptations for television stage & screen & most notably for his masterpiece Fahrenheit 451. Bradbury has done a rare thing; to capture both the popular & literary imagination. Within these pages the reader will be transported to foreign & extraordinary worlds become transfixed by visions of the past present & future & be left humbled & inspired by one of most absorbing & engaging writers of this century & the last. This is the second of two volumes offering the very best of his short stories including The Garbage Collector The Machineries of Joy & The Toynbee Convector. ...

Ray Harryhausen is one of the most innovative & influential film animators in the history of the medium responsible for such classic films as Jason & the Argonauts The 7th Voyage of Sinbad Clash of the Titans & One Million Years BC. A pioneer of stop-motion animation he has won countless awards including a star on the Hollwood Walk of Fame & inspired numerous film-makers such as Stephen Spielberg George Lucas & Peter Jackson. Ray's story has been told in books such as An Animated Life & many of his concept drawings & models have appeared in The Art of Ray Harryhausen (both of which books were also published by Aurum). This new book reveals a wealth of fascinating artefacts relating to his films that has never been seen before many of them recently discovered in a garage in Los Angeles. Designed in the form of a scrapbook it provides a visual feast for Harryhausen fans. There are models from unrealized projects such as dinosaurs from the unfinished film Evolution; prints of outtakes from various films including The Beast from 20 000 Fathoms; early concept drawings & storyboards; colour transparencies of Ray at work; written artefacts such as letters & production budgets & a diary that details Ray's first meeting with his mentor Willis O' Brien; early film treatments & script extracts; publicity posters & brochures; & much much more. Some of the items show Ray's earliest artistic endeavours such as watercolours painted when he was 15 years old & marionettes of creatures from King Kong that he made when he saw the film in 1933. Organized into themed chapters covering the different genres that Ray worked in each film is given a brief introduction & every image has a detailed caption. In many cases images are juxtaposed to show how a creature or effect evolved or to compare a concept drawing with a still from the finished film. The result is a treasure trove of rare artefacts & material which not only offer new insights into how Ray created particular effects but bring the worlds of his films to life in a new way & paint a fascinating visual portrait of the man himself & his creative imagination. This is a must for every Ray Harryhausen fan. ...

In RAYS MEARS GOES WALKABOUT Ray Mears journeys through the wilderness of the Australian Outback to learn about the people the wildlife & the culture of this extraordinary l&. He is joined by Australian survival experts who enrich his journey & deepen Rays understanding of the bushcraft of this incredible continent. These are journeys that encompass many of the themes of Rays world discovery the natural world indigenous culture adventure & survival. Above all they represent something very close to Rays heart the most important thing we can learn when travelling is to be open to new ideas new ways of doing things new experiences. For Ray this is the only way to promote understanding & learning. His voyage into the wilds of Australia encompasses so many different natural habitats with a rich indigenous culture & many tales of exploration & survival as well all his trademark survival knowledge & wilderness tips. ...

Theres so much more to Rays on-screen tough-guy image & his path to the top has been anything but plain sailing. He was every inch the rebel in his youth & was even a London schoolboy boxing champion; but he always had an affinity for acting. Deciding to pursue his dream through drama school he soon found himself an outsider & was expelled. But he managed to blag his way into an audition for what would prove to be his big break
- his cocky aggressive boxers gait making him perfect for the lead in Alan Clarkes Scum. Going on to both small
- & big-screen success as well as in the theatre Ray really cemented his place in the pantheon of British acting greats with his breathtaking performance in Nil By Mouth which earned him a BAFTA nomination. His subsequent roles in the likes of Sexy Beast The War Zone & Last Orders won him plaudits & continued his tradition of portraying tough uncompromising men. But every tough guy has a heart & Ray has tempered these roles with those in more light-hearted romantic comedies such as Fanny & Elvis & Theres Only One Jimmy Grimble. With roles in Indiana Jones 4 Beowulf (with Angelina Jolie) & London Boulevard & with such great British telefilms as Henry VIII Sweeny Todd & Vincent under his belt Ray Winstone continues to go from strength to strength.

...

Ray Campbell Smith shares his years of experience in this book packed full of tips for watercolour painters. Learn all you need to know from the the tools of the trade choosing what to paint & avoiding & correcting mistakes to how to paint skies water foliage & more. The tips are clearly presented & explained & illustrated by many beautiful & accomplished paintings. They will help unravel the mysteries of the watercolour medium for those new to painting & also for more experienced watercolourists on the lookout for tips from a true master. ...

US Marshal Raylan Givens star of the series JUSTIFIED & protagonist of RIDING THE RAP PRONTO & the story FIRE IN THE HOLE is back in action this time with a federal warrant to serve on a dope dealer named Angel Arenas a man born in the U.S. but a hundred percent of him Hispanic. The state troopers are impressed when the marshal struts into the convicts hotel room without drawing his gun but Raylan soon finds that Angels already been the victim of another crime one thats way bigger than a few pot plants & clearly the work of a professional.. .RAYLAN shows Elmore Leonard at the height of his powers as we follow one of his favourite protagonists through a series of adventures with unlikely villains. As ever the work is filled with unexpected twists & the most vibrant crackling dialogue currently available in the English language. ...

The ancient market town of Rayleigh is rich in both its history & in the historians who have told the tale. Limelight Lantern lectures were first shown in 1884 when the population was just over 1 000 the railway had not yet arrived & the roads were at best comprised of compacted earth with granite chippings & had no drainage. That tradition continues today as historians continue to explore Rayleigh through slideshows lectures & books. During the ensuing 128 years the stories of the motte & bailey castle the martyrs burnt at the stake the windmills & the rapid development once the railway arrived in 1889 have not lost their fascination. The photographs in this book most of which have not been seen in print before present Rayleighs rich & varied heritage in vivid detail from its origins as a small agricultural village to the thriving town of today. ...

With four little books full of Christmas magic there is something to keep everyone happy on Christmas day. Based on Raymond briggs bestselling favourites The Snowman" & " Father Christmas" there are four concept-based books including words weather opposites & counting. This is the perfect introduction to the world of the Snowman for very little readers." ...